Anyone that knows me can tell you I love to cook. I am obsessed with cooking shows, cooking magazines, all things food. In my quest for culinary brilliance, I have come across a few tips that have helped me the most.
#1 - Run an onion under cold water prior to cutting. This will keep you from "crying" while your cutting.
#2 - If you have over salted your soup or sauce, add a few pieces of potato. The potato will absorb the excess salt. Check your dish periodically and remove the potatoes when it is seasoned to your taste.
#3 - When sauteing mushrooms, add a little salt. This will pull the moisture out of the mushrooms and they will brown faster.
#4 - When cooking with fresh ginger, freeze the excess. This will not only keep it from spoiling but it will also make it easier to grate.
#5 - Use lavender oil on a burn. Run the burn under cold water for a few minutes and apply neat lavender oil. It will relieve the pain and prevent scarring.
Last night I burned myself cooking dinner. After I ran my hand under cold water for a few minutes, I rubbed some lavender oil on the burn. It instantly felt better and, from past experience, I know it's not going to leave a scar. A massage therapist gave me this tip a few years ago and I've kept it in the kitchen ever since.
Besides the calming effects and relief from burns, there are a number of other health benefits of lavender oil. Check out http://www.netherfield.co.nz/lavender-uses.php for more uses of lavender oil.
